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Eventful night tonight at the c-store! All night, there were kids (middle school aged or so) in and out of the store from the roller rink just down the street. I kept an eye out, because, as we all know, kids in groups can be trouble. One of them, a boy of just fifteen years old, stood by the pop cooler for the longest time. It should be noted our pop cooler is beside the end of our counter. I work in a tiny store. Anyway, said boy decided it was a GREAT idea to steal a pack of mini cigarillos. He also decided it was a REALLY great idea to brag to his friends outside the roller rink about it. Well, two of the girls who overheard him came to us and alerted us to what was going on. Coworker R took off out the door to talk to the kid and get the stolen goods back. He ended up bringing the kid back to the store, having him sit down and give us back what he stole, and I called the kid's parents. The following ensued. SK is stupid kid, ME is me, CR is Coworker R, and KD is Kids Dad.
CR: *after railing into SK aobut how wrong what he did was* Should we call your parents, or call the cops? What do you think?
SK: *upset, shrugs* I don't know...
CR: What do you think your parents would say? What would your parents do?
SK: *mumbling emotionally* Ground me for life and *mumblemumblemumble*
CR: I just want to get the point across that you should NOT be stealing and it could get you in a LOT of trouble. Now I'm going to leave it up to this young lady *gestures to me* whether she wants to call the cops or your parents.
SK: *nods, says nothing*
ME: Is that all you stole?
SK: *trembling, pretty much pissing himself with nervousness* Yes.
ME: Who do you think would be worse punishment? Your parents or the cops?
SK *sot of shrugs, mumbling through tears* My parents...
ME: Hmm *takes out a phone book to look up the number for the local police*
SK: *eyes get big* What are you doing?
ME: Calling the police.
SK: *tearfully* Please don't! I'd rather take it from my parents!
ME: *after considering it for a moment, given that he turned the cigars back in and all* What're your parents names?
SK: *gives information*
I called SK'd parents. His mom answered the phone, and all I had to say was her son was at the store and we'd had an incident with him, and she said they'd be right down. The entire time wee were waiting, SK had his head down, crying and shaking. His dad finally came in, and the seconf part of the evening's fun unfolded.
ME: Are you his father?
SD: Yes.
ME: I'll let him tell you what he did *turns to SK* Why don't you look at your father and tell him what you did?
SK: *keeps his head down, doesn't speak*
ME: *after giving him a few minutes* Since you won't, I will. We caught him stealing cigars a bit ago.
SD: Cigars...*looks at SK, shakes his head*
ME: *explains how we found out, CR comes up and tells his part of the story*
SD: What am I going to do? *looks at SK* What should I do about this? *looks at me* Are you going to call the police and press charges? I'd understand if you did.
ME: Since he returned the cigars, no. If he hadn't, then yes, the police would be called. I can still call them if you'd like.
SD: *looks at SK, grabs him lightly by the bangs and tilts his head up to look at him* Do you want a record?
SK: *tearfully* No...*after a few minutes* Is mom home?
SD: Oh your mom's home. She's the one that got the call.
SK: *hangs his head again*
After a bit more discussion, SD ordered SK to the car. He talked with CR and I about what had happened. He promised SK would be punished and learn a good lesson. CR did tell him that SK had admitted right away to stealing the cigars when he'd asked him. At least he gets credit for that. By the way, in case you think I should have called the cops...SK's dad happens to be a shift captain at the nearby state prison. I'd say his wrath will be just as harsh and lesson bearing as the police.
CR: *after railing into SK aobut how wrong what he did was* Should we call your parents, or call the cops? What do you think?
SK: *upset, shrugs* I don't know...
CR: What do you think your parents would say? What would your parents do?
SK: *mumbling emotionally* Ground me for life and *mumblemumblemumble*
CR: I just want to get the point across that you should NOT be stealing and it could get you in a LOT of trouble. Now I'm going to leave it up to this young lady *gestures to me* whether she wants to call the cops or your parents.
SK: *nods, says nothing*
ME: Is that all you stole?
SK: *trembling, pretty much pissing himself with nervousness* Yes.
ME: Who do you think would be worse punishment? Your parents or the cops?
SK *sot of shrugs, mumbling through tears* My parents...
ME: Hmm *takes out a phone book to look up the number for the local police*
SK: *eyes get big* What are you doing?
ME: Calling the police.
SK: *tearfully* Please don't! I'd rather take it from my parents!
ME: *after considering it for a moment, given that he turned the cigars back in and all* What're your parents names?
SK: *gives information*
I called SK'd parents. His mom answered the phone, and all I had to say was her son was at the store and we'd had an incident with him, and she said they'd be right down. The entire time wee were waiting, SK had his head down, crying and shaking. His dad finally came in, and the seconf part of the evening's fun unfolded.
ME: Are you his father?
SD: Yes.
ME: I'll let him tell you what he did *turns to SK* Why don't you look at your father and tell him what you did?
SK: *keeps his head down, doesn't speak*
ME: *after giving him a few minutes* Since you won't, I will. We caught him stealing cigars a bit ago.
SD: Cigars...*looks at SK, shakes his head*
ME: *explains how we found out, CR comes up and tells his part of the story*
SD: What am I going to do? *looks at SK* What should I do about this? *looks at me* Are you going to call the police and press charges? I'd understand if you did.
ME: Since he returned the cigars, no. If he hadn't, then yes, the police would be called. I can still call them if you'd like.
SD: *looks at SK, grabs him lightly by the bangs and tilts his head up to look at him* Do you want a record?
SK: *tearfully* No...*after a few minutes* Is mom home?
SD: Oh your mom's home. She's the one that got the call.
SK: *hangs his head again*
After a bit more discussion, SD ordered SK to the car. He talked with CR and I about what had happened. He promised SK would be punished and learn a good lesson. CR did tell him that SK had admitted right away to stealing the cigars when he'd asked him. At least he gets credit for that. By the way, in case you think I should have called the cops...SK's dad happens to be a shift captain at the nearby state prison. I'd say his wrath will be just as harsh and lesson bearing as the police.
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